High speed printer operatively controlled by mechanical impulses



J1me 1966 E. EISSFELDT ETAL 3,255,693

HIGH SPEED PRINTER OPERATIVELY CONTROLLED BY MECHANICAL IMPULSES Filed Nov. 16, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J1me 1966 E. EISSFELDT ETAL 3, 55,

HIGH SPEED PRINTER OPERATIVELY CONTROLLED BY MECHANICAL IMPULSES Filed NOV. 16, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J1me 1966 E. EISSFELDT ETAL 3,255,693

HIGH SPEED PRINTER OPERATIVELY CONTROLLED BY MECHANICAL IMPULSES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 16, 1960 June 1966 E. EISSFELDT ETAL 3,255,693

HIGH SPEED PRINTER OPERATIVELY CONTROLLED BY MECHANICAL IMPULSES Flled Nov 16, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

United States Patent s Claims. ((31. 1101-93 This invention is concerned with a high speed printer for data processing apparatus, which is operatively controlled by mechanical impulses and provided with a continuously moving auxiliary control device which delivers the printing force and determines the exact printing instant. Such high speed printer shall make it possible to print successively, for example, ten symbols per second, and shall moreover be adapted for construction as a line printer for printing ten lines per second, each line containing, for example, seventy symbols.

It is already known to employ for such purposes the socalled flying imprint, that is, to utilize a printing hammer which is controlled according to a time code and cooperates with a continuously rotating type carrier, for example, a type wheel. In the case of line printers, there are provided type wheels corresponding in number to the number of possible symbols per line, such type wheels being combined in a type drum.

It is moreover known to derive the printing energy and the exact printing instant within the time period which is available for the, symbol to be printed, from a member moving with the type carrier in a constant ratio, for example, from a disk provided with radial hammer or impact pins.

A known high speed printer of this kind is controlled electro-dynarnically. The mechanical release or control impulses are thereby derived from the motion of a conductor disposed in the magnet field of a permanent magnet, which is effected responsive to conductingthereto an electric impulse.

The disadvantage of such printers is that they require relatively large space and high currents for effecting the release operation thereof. There is moreover the danger that rebound blows and erroneous imprints are produced due to delayed return of the mechanical impulse transmission member from the region of the printing member or an intermediate element connected therewith.

According to the invention, these disadvantages are avoided by the provision of means, operatively controlled by the motion of the printing member or hammer, for the controlled decoupling of the printing member from the impulse transmitter for the remaining portion of at least the return motion thereof until shortly before it reaches the initial position.

termediate members disposed between the mechanical element which is controlled by the impulse transmitter, and the printing element, and by effecting responsive to the motion of the printing element a decoupling between the intermediate member which cooperates with the printing element and the mechanical member which is controlled by the impulse transmitter. If desired, a coupling member may also be inserted between the printing element and the continuously moving auxiliary control device, for example, the cam disk or the pin disk em- .ployed as noted before.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, in an embodiment employing respectively a cam disk or a pin disk, there may be allotted to the respective disk an axially adjacent zone containing a member which scans the respective disk and which is spring-connected with the Working Zone thereof, such member being in preparatory position, and a resilient auxiliary member acting as a gate may be provided for returning the scanning member after its operative motion into the preparatory zone.

In accordance with still another feature of the invention, a particularly compact construction adapted for the This mode of operation permits the use of impulse transmitters, such as electromagnets, which are actuated in simple manner. Moreover, the printing member or hammer is not hindered in returning to its initial position or closely thereto, prior to conclusion of the time period corresponding to the impulse pattern frequency.

In accordance with another object and feature of the invention, a cam disk or a pin disk is used as an auxiliary control device. Upon using a cam disk, such disk will be effective to operate. as a member for the gradual acceleration of the printing hammer or element, and upon using a pin disk, each pin will be effective to impart to the printing element a blow directly or indirectly.

A particularly favorable embodiment of a high speed printer is in accordance with a further feature of the invention obtained by the provision of one or more inarrangement of a plurality of printing systems closely adjacent one another, for the nearly simultaneous printing of a line, will be obtained by using one or more intermediate members disposed movably in the plane of the cam disk or pin disk, respectively. An intermediate member is thereby advantageously employed which is rockable about .an axis or edge extending in parallel to the cam disk or the pin disk, together with a spring engaging the intermediate member and serving for rocking it back to its normal position as well as for moving it from the motion range of the cam disk or pin disk.

The impact engagement of the member which is to be effected by the auxiliary control device, for example, the cam disk or pin disk, frontally with respect to a cam or a pin, is suitably prevented, for example, by means of known coincidence circuits.

The foregoing and further objects and features of the invention will appear in the course of the description of embodiments thereof which is rendered below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show a high speed printer having a printing element which is directly releasible electromagnetically, the parts being illustrated in different working phases;

FIG. 6 represents the salient parts of a high speed printer having an intermediate member disposed between v simple electr-omagnets which do not require any particular measures with respect to rapid energization or extraordinarily fast restoration, thus achieving good efficiency thereof. The armatures of the electromagnets are spring biased with respect to the normal position thereof. In the systems or embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 6, 8, 9 and 10, the magnet armature must have reached the normal position shortly before the next possible operative actuation, and in theembodiment according to FIG.

7, the magnet armature must be in normal position shortly before the return of the printing element.

The illustrated high speed printing systems have the following features: The paper 1 serving as a record carrier lies between a typewheel 2 and a printing element 3, an

' wardly and vice versa.

inking ribbon, which may be provided, being omitted in the various figures. Only the actuation of the movable printing element is effected electromagnetically; its motion energy is derived from an auxiliary control device made particularly as a rotatable cam disk or pin disk. The motion of this control device is in a constant relation with respect to the motion of the typewheel, such that the printing element can press the paper against the typewheel only when being exactly opposite to the type to be printed. For example, when using a cam disk or a pin disk with twelve cams or pins provided peripherally thereof, and a typewheel with sixty types, the cam disk or pin disk, respectively, is rotated with a fivefold speed, as compared with the speed of rotation of the typewheel, under consideration of the duration of motion of the printing element in an accurately determined phase relation which does not vary proportionally with the rotation of the typewheel, since the delay during the free flight of the printing element, after leaving the control member, would otherwise be different.

FIGS. 1 to show an embodiment of the invention in five different motion phases, namely, FIG. 1 in the initial position with deenergized electromagnet 8; FIG. 2 with energized electromagnet 8, the printing element being thereby placed into the motion range of the pin disk; FIG. 3 after impact engagement of the printing element by the impact pin 5a which is marked on the pin disk by a radial line; FIG. 4 during the type printing; and FIG. 5 near the end of the return motion of the printing element with the electromagnet 8 still energized.

In this high speed printing system, the printing element 3 is for reasons of resilience strongly crimped at its lower end, and is operatively releasable directly by the armature 4 of the electromagnet S. The motion energy for the printing element and therewith its printing force, is supplied by the pin disk '5. The printing element 3 is guided in a guide frame 6, its lower end engaging the guide frame in the position according to FIG. 1 at the lower left thereof. In the position according to FIG. 2, it will engage the guide frame at the lower rig-ht end thereof. The lower end of the printing element is slightly thicker, the transition being rather gradual, as shown, and the printing element is thereby rotated approximately clockwise, as indicated in FIG. 3 by the arrow, being then in guiding engagement with the guide on both sides during the printing operation. Upon completion of the printing operation, the printing element is drawn in the direction ofits initial position by a spring 7 extending obliquely downwardly as shown. If the electromagnet is at that time still energized, as is assumed in FIG. 5, the printing element will assume the position in which it is shown in this figure, thereafter falling into the position shown in FIG. 1, responsive to deenergization of the electromagnet 8 and consequent restoration of the armature 4.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 6, the pin disk 5 is shown in simplified manner considering only the impact pin 5a. It is assumed that the printing element 13 is guided by the members 12 so that it can move only in longitudinal direction, respectively upwardly and down- The armature -14 of the electromagnet 18 has an arm 14:: movably linked t-herewit-h, such arm being provided with a cam 1411. In the position shown, the cam 14b is interlocked with a cam 16a of an intermediate member 16 which is biased to the left by a spring -15.

The opera-tion of this embodiment is as follows:

Energization of the electromagnet 18 causes the armature arm 14 to move the intermediate member 16 to the right, thereby placing such member into the path of motion of the pin 5a of the disk 5. The pin 5a hits the end of the member 16, rotating it counterclockwise about its journal 17 and thus also rotating the armature arm 14 about its linkage axis 140, thereby driving the printing element 13 upwardly against the paper 1 and the latter against the type on the typewheel 2 which is at that instant positioned opposite the printing element 16, thus effecting the synchronized printing of the corresponding type symbol. The extension 1311 of the printing element 13 thereby engages the free end of the armature arm 14a, taking such arm along and thus uncoupling the cams 14b with respect to the cam 16a. The spring 15 is thereupon operative to move the intermediate member 16 into the initial position in which it is shown, such motion being limited by a suitable stop which has been omitted to keep the drawing simple. The printing element #13 moves thereupon into its normal position and the magnet armature 14 is restored to normal by the action of spring 19, allowing the cams 14b and 16a to interlock again.

Each of the high speed printing systemsaccording to FIGS. 7 and 8 comprises an axially resilient member which is for the type printing angularly movable under control of a cam disk. This member lies in preparatory position axially adjacent the cam disk and is upon release by the magnet armature brought into the path of motion of the cams of the cam disk by its axial resilience. While the use of cams instead of impact pins has as such no bearing on the operation just described, it results in the advantage that the acceleration is, similar-1y as in many customary teleprinter machines with type levers, accurately determinable by the cam shape-despite the fact that the printing element flies freely already shortly before effecting the printing and that the printing force is accordingly considerably more accurately determinable than in the case of mere impact on the printing element.

Explained more in detail, the printing system shown in FIG. 7 is constructed as follows: For effecting the accurately timed pressure motion of the paper 1 against a given type on the typewheel 2, there is provided a printing element 23, made in the form of an angular double armed lever, the end 23a of which lying in the illus trated preparatory position upon a cylindrical portion of a disk 22 and its end 23b forming the printing element head. The arm terminating in the end 23a is made particularly thin within the range of an area 230, being made at least along such area of resilient material. The electromagn'et (not shown) is provided with a longitudinally movable armature extension 24 which is enlarged at its end 2411 and provided with a notch. This extension glides along a supporting plate '25 and is pressed against a stop 27 by means of an intermediate member 26 the upper part'of which is fastened to the supporting plate 25, such member 26 being adapted to move upon release thereof resiliently in the direction of the arrow. The ear 26a of the intermediate member is thereby in the normal position in engagement with the upper flank of the notch in the armature extension 24. The free end 2612 of the intermediate member 26 extends radially in the direction of the axis 21 of the printing element 23, preventing in the illustrated position the displacement of the end 23a of the printing element with respect to a cam portion 22a of the disk 22.

Upon energization of the electromagnet, the armature extension 24 is drawn somewhat upwardly and the intermediate member 26 can now fall into the notch at the end 24a thereof, thereby permitting the end 23a of the printing element to execute the previously mentioned swinging motion in axial direction. The next cam 22a of the disk 22 gradually lifts the end 23a of the printing element and accelerates the motion thereof against the force of its restoring spring 28, the printing element finally flying freely and effecting the printing of the desired type symbol upon the instant of release thereof. The end of the printing element arm 23a, upon being raised, momentarily lifts a member 29 which is made in the form of a leaf spring and acts as a gate, from the supporting plate 25 by sliding underneath an angular extension 29a. Upon restoration of the printing element, this angular extension 29a operates as a gate causing the end 23a of the printing element arm to move prior to reaching its initial position in the direction of the cylindrical portion of the disk 22. The part 26a of the intermediate member 26 has meanwhile assumed the illustrated position by the action of the extension 24 of the magnet armature. The printing element therefore is again in its preparatory position.

The printing system shown in FIG. 8 is so far as the cam disk is concerned, which is indicated by numeral 32, constructed similarly as the system represented in FIG. 7. The printing element 33 is constructed as a longitudinally movable element, guided in members 30, 31 which is restored to normal position by a leaf spring 38. The armature of the electromagnet (not shown) is provided with a wire extension 34 which is upon energization of the electromagnet moved to the left, such wire extension 34 being fixedly connected with a longitudinally movable bar 34a. A second likewise bar-like intermediate member 35 is in the illustrated position interlocked with the bar 34a, by means to be presently described, and serves for locking in preparatory position a coupling element 36 which is, similar to the printing element end 23a of the previously described example, axially resilient and rotatable about an axis 20, such element 36 resting upon a fixed stop 37. The parts 34, 34a and 35 are restored to normal, into the illustrated position, respectively by means of leaf springs 39a and 39b. The coupling element 36 is resilient in the direction indicated by the arrow A, that is, it is biased in the direction of the axis of the cam disk.

The operation of the printer shown in FIG. 8 is as follows:

Upon release motion of the wire-like armature extension 34 and therewith of the bar 34a to the left, the intermediate member 35 will be moved to the left against the force of the spring 39b, by the action of the extension 34b and an angular part 35a on the intermediate member 35. The coupling member 36 is thereby freed for motion with respect to the range of action of the cams on the cam disk 32. The free end 36a of the coupling member 36 is moved upwardly, by the action of the cam disk, with accurate control of the acceleration thereof, sliding during such upward motion along the frontal surface of the downwardly extending guide plate 30. Upon leaving the cam disk 32, the coupling member impacts the lower end of the printing element 33,

driving such element against the paper 1 at the instant.

when the desired type symbol of the typewheel 2 is oppositethereto. Upon the start of the upward motion of the end 36a of the coupling member 36, the angularly extending end 35b of the intermediate bar-like member 35, which acts as a gate, is slightly lifted in the direction of the arrow B, thereby releasing the interlock between the parts 34b and 35a. After being passed by the coupling member 36, the intermediate member 35 moves by its resilience rearwardly until its angularly extending end which acts as a gate encounters the frontal surface of the guide plate 30. Upon moving back in downward direction, the coupling member 36 slides along the frontal side of the gate 35b into engagement with the stop 37. The intermediate member 35 is directly after decoupling of the parts 34b and 35b moved to the right into the illustrated normal position, by the action of the spring 3%, regardless of the position of the bar 34a. Accordingly, the printing element 33 and the coupling member 36 can thereupon return to'the illustrated initial position even in case the armature of the electromagnet and therewith the bar 34a should not yet be at normal. Only when the latter are restored to normal will the parts 35a and 34b again be interlocked.

FIG. 9 shows a high speed printer in side view, the electromagnet being omitted. The printing element 43 of this embodiment is structurally generally similar to the printing element 33 of the example shown in FIG. 8, being longitudinally movable within guide means 41 and being biased in normal position by means of a spring 48. The

lower end of the printing element 43 rests upon the free end of a horizontally movable and angularly rockable intermediate member which in turn rests upon an extension 46a of a guide member 46. The left end of the intermediate member is guided only on its side. It is provided at the last third of its total length with a downwardly projecting extension 45b and thus rockable about an edge 46b of the guide, against the force of a spring 49 which engages the extension 45b. The armature of the electromagnet is provided with a wire-like extension 44 which is moved to the right responsive to energization of the electromagnet. This extension is likewise guided by the guide 46 and carries at the right end thereof a buffer 44a. A pin disk 42 is provided acting as an auxiliary timing control device.

The operation of this high speed printer is as follows:

Responsive to release motion of the wire-like armature extension 44 and therewith of the intermediate member 45 I to the right, such intermediate member is brought within the range of action of the pin disk 42 and is by the impact of a pin rocked counterclockwise about the edge 46b, thereby hitting the printing element 43 and driving it upwardly to effect printing of a symbol. Theparts 45 and 44a are thereby decoupled. The spring 49 can now exert its force and presses the extension 45b against the edge 46b so that the intermediate member finally assumes the position indicated in dash lines. After completion of the printing operation, the printing element moves downwardly by gravity and by the pressure of the restoring spring 48, thereby encountering the right hand end of the intermediate member and rocking it clockwise into the illustrated initial position, insofar as such rocking had not been completed by the action of the spring 49. In case the armature extension 44 should at that instant not be in the illustrated initial position, the buffer 44a will be pressed slightly upwardly against the force of the spring 47 and lies with its extreme end upon the left end of the intermediate member 45. As soon as the electromagnet armature is restored, whereby the armature extension 44 is drawn to the left, the spring 47 will restore the buffer 44a into the illustrated preparatory position.

FIG. 10 shows a multiple high speed printer apparatus,

7 comprising six electromagnet systems 50, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60

of six high speed printers disposed one next to the other with a spacing corresponding to a line spacing, said electromagnets being mounted in two rows upon a common mounting plate. The parts 41, 42, 43, 45, '46, 48 and 49 of FIG. 9 will be readily recognized in FIG. 10 although some of them exhibit negligible structural changes. The wire-like extension 44 which is controlled by the electromagnet 50, being linked to the armature 40, is longitudinally movable in the guide member 46. However, it does not directly engage the intermediate member 45, but a lever 52 which is pivotally movable about a bolt 51, such lever forming together with a J-shaped leaf spring 53 a transmission and direction deflecting element between the parts 44 and 45 which extend at an angle of 90 to one another. The leaf spring 53 which takes the place of the spring 47 in FIG. 9 is biased so as to engage with its free end a bolt 54. A further bolt 55 takes the place of the edge 46 in FIG. 9 and extends in parallel with the bolts 51 and '54, all of such bolts being fastened in a thin plate 460 extending at right angle thereto and forming a part of the guide member 46.

Six of the wire-like armature extensions, serving for the release of six respectively associated high speed printers which are disposed one adjacent the other, are in the above explained manner combined, these extensions being staggered as to length thereof. The leaf springs 53 serve also as armature restoring springs for the respective armatures. The shape of these leaf springs and the bias thereof assure linear motion of the free ends thereof with element heads has been omitted in order to bring out more clearly the structure of the type drum which is composed of many individual typewheels 2. The paper sheet is advanced stepwise in upward direction.

Changes and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. Other control devices may be used in place of the cam disks or pin disks, for example, devices comprising reciprocable impact or hammer members. The parts cooperating with the control devices, for example, with the pin disks, may be movable parallel to the axis of these disks. However, the radial motion of the elements cooperating with the respective cam disks and pin disks has been found particularly suitable, for reasons of advantageous placement of the printing systems, especially in arrangements comprising a plurality of systems disposed one next to the other, as shown for example in FIG. 10.

Changes may be made accordingly within the scope and spirit of the appended claims which define what is believed to be new and desired to have protected by Letters Patent.

We claim:

1. A high speed printer operatively controlled by mechanical impulses, comprising an impulsing device in the form of an electromagnet having an armature, a movable type carrier, a printing element movable with respect to said type carrier, an auxiliary control device for supplying the printing pressure force for said printing element and for maintaining synchronization of the printing actuation thereof, means for continuously moving said auxiliary device in a constant relationship with respect to the motion of said type carrier, a mechanical member forming an extension of said armature and longitudinally movable responsive to attraction of said armature, an intermediate member having one end thereof disposed adjacent to said auxiliary control device and its other end disposed adjacent to the free end of said mechanical member, and movable thereby for selectively eflecting a coupling between said printing element and said auxiliary control device, the force transmitted from said auxiliary control device for effecting actuation of said printing element being operative to simultaneously efiect a decoupling of said intermediate and mechanical members.

2. A high speed printer according to claim 1, comprising a resilient member disposed between the end of said mechanical member and said intermediate member for transmitting mechanical impulses from said mechanical member to actuate said intermediate member, said resilient member being biased for automatically returning to its preparatory position responsive to release of said mechanical member and of said intermediate member.

3. A high speed printer operatively controlled by mechanical impulses, comprising an impulsing device in the form of an electromagnet having an armature, a movable type carrier, a printing element movablewith respect to said type carrier, an auxiliary control device comprising a control disk having projections thereon peripherally thereof, for supplying the printing pressure force for said printing element and for maintaining synchronization of the printing actuation thereof, means for continuously moving said auxiliary device in a constant relationship with respect to the motion of said type carrier, a mechanical member forming an extension of said armature and longitudinally movable responsive to attraction of said armature, a longitudinally movable intermediate member disposed adjacent to the free end of said mechanical member, and at a angle with respect thereto, a resilient member disposed between the end of said mechanical member and the adjacent end of said intermediate member, the opposite end of said intermediate member being disposed for selective engagement with projections of said control device and with said printing element, said resilient member being operative to transmit mechanical impulses from said extension to actuate said intermediate member operative to selectively effect a coupling between said printing element and said auxiliary control device, the force transmitted from said auxiliary control device for effecting actuation of said printing element being operative to effect a decoupling of said intermediate and mechanical members.

4. A high speed printer according to claim 2, wherein said resilient member is disposed to operatively exert a force on said extension for effecting the restoration of the magnet armature.

5. A high speed printer according to claim 1, comprising means operatively controlled by said printing element incident to the printing motion thereof for effecting said decoupling.

6. A high speed printer according to claim 3, comprising means for supporting said intermediate member for rocking movement about an axis extending parallel to the disk axis, upon actuation of said intermediate member by said control disk.

7. A high speed printer according to claim 6, comprising a spring engaging said rockable intermediate member, said spring being operative for restoring such member to normal position and to withdraw it from the range of action of said control disk.

8. A high speed printer apparatus comprising a plurality of printers according to claim 3, the printing elements of said system being longitudinally movable, said mechanical member of each printer comprising a Wirelike actuating member extending from the armature of the respectively associated electromagnet and movable in the plane of motion of the associated printing element.

9. A high speed printer apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said printers are disposed in parallel relationship, the number of said printers corresponding to the number of symbols contained in a line to be printed on a record sheet.

10. A high speed printer apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the respective electromagnets are structurally wider than the printing elements associated therewith, and means for arranging said electromagnets in mutually staggered relationship.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,766,686 10/1956 Fomenko et al. 10193 2,787,210 4/1957 Shepard 101--93 2,792,779 5/ 1957 Toeppen et al l0193 2,885,956 5/1959 Ash et al. 10193 2,895,411 7/1959 Demer et al. 10l-93 2,897,752 8/1959 Malmros et al. 10193 WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Examiner. 

1. A HIGH SPEED PRINTER OPERATIVELY CONTROLLED BY MECHANICAL IMPULSES, COMPRISING AN IMPULSING DEVICE IN THE FORM OF AN ELECTROMAGNET HAVING AN ARMATURE, A MOVABLE TYPE CARRIER, A PRINTING ELEMENT MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID TYPE CARRIER, ASN AUXILIARY CONTROL DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING THE PRINTING PRESSURE FORCE FOR SAID PRINTING ELEMENT AND FOR MAINTAINING SYNCHRONIZATION OF THE PRINTING ACTUATION THEREOF, MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY MOVING SAID AUXILIARY DEVICE IN A CONSTANT RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO THE MOTION OF SAID TYPE CARRIER, A MECHANICAL MEMBER FORMING AN EXTENSION OF SAID ARMATURE AND LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE RESPONSIVE TO ATTRACTION OF SAID ARMATURE, AN INTERMEDATE MEMBER HAVING ONE END THEREOF DISPOSED ADJACENT TO SAID AUXILIARY CONTROL DEVICE AND ITS OTHER END DISPOSED ADJACENT TO THE FREE END OF SAID MECHANICAL MEMBER, AND MOVABLE THEREBY FOR SELECTIVELY EFFECTING A COUPLING BETWEEN SAID PRINTING ELEMENT AND SAID AUXILIARY CONTROL DEVICE, THE FORCE TRANSMITTED FROM SAID AUXILIARY CONTROL DEVICE FOR EFFECTING ACTUATION OF SAID PRINTING ELEMENT BEING OPERATIVE TO SIMULTANEOUSLY EFFECT A DECOUPLING OF SAID INTERMEDIATE AND MECHANICAL MEMBERS. 